The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

What about our Wallaroos?

Roar Guru
18th September, 2010
25

I think we all can agree that the Wallabies are by far the most discussed sporting team on this particular site and that largely Rugby tends to fill the majority of contributors submissions.

It’s the primary reason I have been regularly visiting The Roar since first discovering the site early last year. I thoroughly enjoy reading the articles and the opinions of my fellow posters.

However, amongst all the at times obsessive analysis that often occurs regarding our great game, we tend to forget that outside of the realm of the Wallabies we have another national team. One that in the last two seasons has seen a re-emergence on the international scene followed by swift success. Know who I am talking about? If you guessed our women’s equivalent then you’re dead on target – the Wallaroos.

These girls have represented our nation with zeal and play the game not only for the fun of it but as hard and with the as much tenacity as any of their male counterparts. But what attention do they get from the Rugby public let alone the wider community? “Well, done…good job”…. then nothing. This for a team that has recorded two of its most significant results in the last 18 months.

First, their enthralling victory at the Sevens RWC in Dubai, then recently their valiant third place getting in the women’s Rugby World Cup in England. Their best ever result. Women’s Rugby in Australia lacks its long overdue acknowledgment and is grossly underfunded.

This isn’t an attempt to put the guilt trip on anyone. As a fan we all tend to get caught up in the latest happenings of our most public face. My premise however is to attempt to highlight the inequities that exist between our male and female athletes. More importantly, this is meant to highlight the countless lost opportunities Rugby has for too long overlooked and failed to capitalise on in developing the game not only in the female arena but in its youth ranks too.

Rugby suffers from an image problem as do most collision sports. While at the elite level these may differ at their very base they all struggle with the perception that they are rough, dangerous and generally unsafe for young children. Such perceptions seriously stifle the games ability to grow their respective youth participation. To be completely honest when it comes to which sport their little Johnny will play regardless of the huff and puff their husbands may produce. Mother’s dictate terms.

This is where backing the women’s game and its current success could really assist the game in attracting more young girls/women and vitally more mother’s to its cause. When mothers realise that girls are participating in organised Rugby competitions administered in a safe environments the preconceived stereotypes will begin to be overcome.

Advertisement

We don’t need national competitions or even millions of dollars in investment. Though either would certainly prove useful particularly the money. What is needed is a well conceived and efficiently executed female development strategy. An effective national development blueprint specifically targeting girls and women separate from any current framework. One that provides Women with a real alternative and one that will see ambitious target outcomes set for the women’s game in this country.

Furthermore, we now have a vessel. Sevens Rugby is perfect for young girls and Women. Open and skillful while containing the less physicality of 15s but still enough to qualify it as a contact sport. It is relatively cheap to establish and doesn’t require a full squad to participate.

Oh, and we’re current World Champions. Not to mention the Olympics. Just two minor selling points.

The neglect of the women’s game has continued for far too long and I believe cannot be sustained. Our nation’s best have proven to be a force worthy of note on the international stage. A stage that should be noted is ever growing. To further place the importance of our female counterparts in the game as a secondary concern will see the game all the poorer for its neglect.

Significantly still by growing our female base an interesting flow on effect could follow. More young boys to bolster our future Wallaby ranks. If the girls can play why not little Johnny. Finally, the fathers and husbands alike may actually be able to win an argument or to put more aptly lose but with a far more satisfying outcome.

close